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The President of Nigeria, Mahamadou Issoufou. Stock Photography.
Niger’s ruling party candidate Mohamed Bazoum wins the first round of the country’s presidential elections by a wide margin.
Bazoum, a former minister and close ally of outgoing President Mahamadou Issoufou, is gathering just over 39 percent of the vote in last weekend’s election.
Second place goes to former President Mahamane Ousmane with 17 percent. Ousmane and Bazoum will now meet in a decisive round on February 20.
About 70 percent of the 7.4 million eligible voters participated in the election, which is described as historic as it is expected to lead to the first democratic transfer of power in the country.
Bazoum, 61, had tried to get enough votes to avoid a second round of elections. Now he learns that he has to seek the support of one or more of the others to secure a victory in the second round.
Bazoum has previously been both Minister of the Interior and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his election campaign has revolved around security and education.
Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world and has long been plagued by unrest.
